Zanskar Field Tour from 25- 28 September 2023

Zanskar Field tour Report Prepared by Department of Disaster Management, Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh Main Objective of Tour Hazard profiling, documentation, disaster site visits and vulnerability analysis of selected villages of Zanskar Region to natural hazards Important Field locations Day 1 (25-09-2023): Enroute Journey from Kargil to Padum Zanskar We commenced our field tour journey from Kargil town at approximately 6 am in the morning. The cloudy weather and cold winds imbued the morning with a mix of worry and excitement. The last pickup point for students was the hostel at Kargil campus, where our journey to Zanskar Valley began at around 7am. The students received a final briefing on the significance of the field tour and were provided with essential instructions to maximize their learning from the experience. They were tasked with analyzing the enroute locations thoroughly to comprehend their close relationship of geophysical environment to the occurrence of multiple hazards. After more than an hour of travel, we made our first important stop for breakfast at Damsna, Panikhar, a renowned picnic spot in Kargil. Following breakfast, we resumed our journey, and the next significant locations for the students were Parkachik and Drang-Drung Glacier. The students received information about the glacier's status from 1970 to the 2020s. They were made aware of the importance of glaciers, their retreat rates, and the related implications in the context of disasters such as droughts and GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods). During our journey, a brief spell of snowfall at Penzilla Pass heightened our concern for the next three days of the tour. The enroute from Kargil to Rangdum covered numerous locations with the potential for hazards like flash floods, landslides, and snow avalanches. The students were regularly briefed about the DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT KARGIL CAMPUS UNIVERSITY OF LADAKH Saliskote Khumbathang Kargil (Ladakh) Tour Map with Important Field locations DDG= Drang-Drung Glacier; FFP= Flash Flood Point; P= Padum town; PG= Parkachik Glacier; R= Rangdum; S=Stongea Village; WF= Sheela Waterfall; T= Tungri Village; SH= Shagar Village; U= Uberrak village; S= Sani Village Zanskar Field Tour from 25- 28 September 2023 influential factors like slope, aspect, elevation, and land cover that significantly contribute to the occurrence of these hazards. We reached Rangdum at approximately 12:30 pm and paused for lunch. After lunch, we continued our journey and arrived at our stay destination, Padum, around 5 pm. The dinner was served around 8pm. The first day of the tour concluded with a comprehensive briefing for the next day. ay 2 (26-09-2023): Hazard Profiling and Documentation The second day of the tour covered three villages, namely Shila village, Padum village, and Stongdae village (Fig. 1). The main focus of the day was to collect hazard data and their GPS documentation. Before visiting these villages, the faculty provided the students with a detailed overview of data collection and documentation procedures. A questionnaire survey was conducted, covering various hazard components such as Hazard Knowledge, Hazard Magnitude, Hazard Frequency, Hazard History, and Hazard Damage. This survey served as the primary tool for collecting hazard information. Additionally, students were asked to analyze geophysical factors contributing to the hazard occurrences in the region. The students and faculty diligently engaged in data collection from Padum (the main town) until lunch. Visits to the SDM and Tehsil office in Padum were also conducted to gather recorded data available with the respective officials. After lunch, two more villages, namely Shela and Stongdae Village, were covered. Upon completing the field survey in Sheela village, the students were given an opportunity to visit the Shela waterfall for one hour. Main outcome of the day: The students successfully collected detailed hazard data from the three villages. Preliminary results from the small sample data indicate that majority of the Padum area had lower vulnerability to hazards such as flash floods, landslides, and snow avalanches. In contrast, the other two villages, Sheela and Stongdae Village, exhibited comparatively higher vulnerability to hazards like snow avalanches, flash floods, and landslides. A significant amount of historical hazard information was gathered from locals, including details about the heavy snowfall-induced avalanche of 1988-89. This event resulted in numerous deaths and the temporary displacement of around 4000 people from different villages in Zanskar.